WPP named world's best parent company by Warc

Group holds trio of top awards as Warc joins Cannes Lions and Effies

For the second consecutive year, WPP has topped the Warc 100 annual ranking of the world’s best campaigns and companies.

The ranking reflects the performance of campaigns and agencies in 79 effectiveness and marketing excellence competitions across the world, all of which require entrants to show the business impact of their work.

WPP emerged as the “world’s best holding company”, based on the combined points total of all agencies and networks within the different parent groups.

Warc is the respected provider of best practice, evidence and insights from the world’s leading brands, and publisher of industry journals including Admap and Market Leader. Its Warc 100 ranking is seen as a benchmark for commercial creativity, and a showcase for those organisations producing work that delivers real business advantage for clients.

Sir Martin Sorrell, CEO of WPP, said: “Creative effectiveness for clients is what we are in business to provide, so this award is a really welcome endorsement of our companies’ success in that regard. With Cannes, the Effies and now Warc, we hold a trio of our industry’s top awards, which is a great tribute to the talent of our people around the world and across all the various disciplines of advertising and marketing services.”

Mike Waterson, Chairman and CEO of Warc, said: “To be named top holding company for the second year is an impressive achievement by WPP. The Warc 100 tracks campaigns that deliver real business value for clients, so WPP’s top ranking reflects a consistent commitment to effectiveness across its businesses. The Warc 100 results also vividly illustrate the ability of WPP agencies to generate real financial returns from well executed advertising and media investment, not just as exceptional events, but as normal outcomes.”